Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2009 - 8:47 am: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is it relevant when this takes place? yes Modern times? yes Earlier?unlikelyIs it relevant where this takes place? yes Could it take place in the US? yes

Is he doing something illegal? no Is he tricking anyone? yesDoes pretending to be Jewish make something easier/more convenient? yes Does it make people assume something about him that happens to be true? noOisin (Oisin) New member Username: Oisin

Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2009 - 7:32 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is it something to do with Jewish customs yes- in particular, the wearing of the yarmulke/kippah? not that one

The relevant Jewish customs - the ritual bath? no the fact that they do work on Sundays? no Their attitude to women? noAlhucema (Alhucema) New member Username: Alhucema

Post Number: 304 Registered: 11-2008

Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2009 - 7:45 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) sorry - I meant that they do NOT work on SATURDAYS. I do apologize. not that either

Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2009 - 10:14 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) OK - my erroneous attempt at a solution was that he was bald(ing) and used a yarmulke to cover his head when he might be embarrassed. Clever, but that's not itIs the custom linked to clothing? no beards? no

Whatever the relevant Jewish custom is, does Jim prefer to take part in it/conform with it for some reason? noAnd he pretends to be Jewish to explain his preference? noBuzzard (Buzzard) New member Username: Buzzard

Is the name "Jim" relevant? His last name? Someone else's first name? Someone else's last name? Is the relevant name(s) Hebrew? Does it/do they sound Hebrew? Does it/do they refer to a physical characteristic? Or seem to?

I see that Jim's family is involved. Which family members: parent(s)? child(ren)? sibling(s)? spouse? more distant relative(s)? Are they only relevant in that they have the same last name as Jim? Or are they relevant in some other sense?

Posted on Friday, January 09, 2009 - 2:22 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) I see that Jim's family is involved. Which family members: parent(s)? child(ren)? sibling(s)? spouse? more distant relative(s)? Are they only relevant in that they have the same last name as Jim? Or are they relevant in some other sense? just parents & only because they named him James, which you already know is relevant

Is the spelling of names particularly relevant? no the pronunciation? noOisin (Oisin) New member Username: Oisin

Post Number: 80 Registered: 12-2008

Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 7:12 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is Jim engaged in this pretence to avoid the necessity for lengthy explanations?no Do some people assume on hearing his name that he is Jewish? irrel

The people who James tries to fool: family? friends? work colleagues? people who he meets in a particular environment? The relevant physical appearance: hair? facial features? or an item which is worn (such as spectacles)? Are Jewish naming customs relevant? family members with the same name?

Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 7:39 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) The people who James tries to fool: family? no friends? possibly work colleagues? very likelypeople who he meets in a particular environment? could be many environmentsThe relevant physical appearance: hair? facial features? or an item which is worn (such as spectacles)? nothing that specificAre Jewish naming customs relevant? yes family members with the same name? no

The someone else whose name is relevant, and whose name is not Jewish (is this correct?) - is this person present when Jim pretends to be Jewish? Is this person a family member? a friend? a work colleague? an acquaintance (e.g. friend of a friend)? Is Jim's full name relevant? His middle name(s)? Does the group of people who Jim tries to fool include Jewish people?

Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 8:23 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) The someone else whose name is relevant, and whose name is not Jewish (is this correct?) - is this person present when Jim pretends to be Jewish? there's a false assumption here Is this person a family member? a friend? a work colleague? an acquaintance (e.g. friend of a friend)? Is Jim's full name relevant? first & last are relevant His middle name(s)? noDoes the group of people who Jim tries to fool include Jewish people yes

Hmm - a false assumption. There is another person whose first name is relevant? and whose last name is yopeishly (sorry about that word! ) relevant? and whose first name is not Jewish? This person: alive? related to Jim? famous? Jewish?

Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 9:44 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Hmm - a false assumption. There is another person whose first name is relevant? yesand whose last name is yopeishly (sorry about that word! ) relevant? yesand whose first name is not Jewish? yesThis person: alive? related to Jim? famous? Jewish? MANY other people are relevant; your FA is in making it sound like just one. Of these people, most are alove, few are related to Jim & fame is irrel

Is it relevant that "James" is a common first name? Does Jim also have a common last name? Does pretending to be Jewish somehow help Jim distinguish himself from other people with the same name?

Is there more than one last name that Jim could have for this puzzle to work? Or is there only one? Does "James (lastname)" (or "Jim (lastname)") form a pun? one with religious implications? One with implications that Jim would rather avoid?

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 6:57 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is it relevant that "James" is a common first name? yope Does Jim also have a common last name? irrelDoes pretending to be Jewish somehow help Jim distinguish himself from other people with the same name? no

Is there more than one last name that Jim could have for this puzzle to work? yes Or is there only one?no Does "James (lastname)" (or "Jim (lastname)") form a pun? no one with religious implications? noOne with implications that Jim would rather avoid? no

Would the puzzle work even better if Jim went by "James" rather than "Jim"? If "Jim" were his full first name, and not a nickname for "James," would the puzzle still work? Is there some other nickname for "James" (like "Jimmy") that is even more relevant?

Are there other first names that our hero could have that would still allow the puzzle to work?

Is it particularly relevant that "Jim" and "Jewish" both start with "J"?

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 7:15 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Would the puzzle work even better if Jim went by "James" rather than "Jim"? noIf "Jim" were his full first name, and not a nickname for "James," would the puzzle still work?Maybe a bit less well, maybe not Is there some other nickname for "James" (like "Jimmy") that is even more relevant? no

Are there other first names that our hero could have that would still allow the puzzle to work? Yes. GOID QUESTION. FIND OUT WHAT THRY ARE!!!!

Is it particularly relevant that "Jim" and "Jewish" both start with "J"? noGourami (Gourami) Moderator Username: Gourami

Post Number: 33 Registered: 10-2008

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 7:26 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Was James' name chosen in a typically Jewish manner, although he is not Jewish? irrel Was he named after a family member? dittoDid he take his mother's last name? ditto A different family members' last name? ditto

Anything to do with the twelve apostles? noish with monarchs of England? no with monarchs of some other country? no with any other set of historic figures? noOisin (Oisin) New member Username: Oisin

Post Number: 100 Registered: 12-2008

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 8:00 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Would any other biblical name work? some would Jacob? Isaac? Abraham? David? Saul? Jeremiah? Joshua? None of those would workIs the meaning of the name relevant? no Does it have to have Hebrew roots? no Are the letters of the name relevant? no

The names that work have something in common? are they names of any of Jim's family members? is the sound of the name relevant? (for example, a final 's' sound) Is the syllable count relevant? Are they names that are shared with a particular group of people? If so, does that group have something in common with each other? Their profession?

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 10:12 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) The names that work have something in common? yes are they names of any of Jim's family members? irrel is the sound of the name relevant? no(for example, a final 's' sound) Is the syllable count relevant? noAre they names that are shared with a particular group of people? yes If so, does that group have something in common with each other? yesTheir profession? no

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 10:39 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Does Jim pretend to be Jewish because he wants to be associated with this group of people? yes because he wants to avoid being associated with them? no

The group of people who share the name: are they all in the same city? the same country? are they all alive? Are they all in the same club? Do they socialise together? Is it when members of this group are present that James pretends to be Jewish? Are the other members of this group Jewish?

Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 7:46 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) The group of people who share the name: are they all in the same city? no the same country? noare they all alive? no Are they all in the same club? noDo they socialise together? Definitely not all & not necessarily any Is it when members of this group are present that James pretends to be Jewish? Their presence is irrel Are the other members of this group Jewish? some

Is the way he pretends to be Jewish relevant? Does he speak Hebrew? pretend to be a rabbi? Or does he simply reply, "Yes", to the question "Are you Jewish?" (or something similar). If the latter, does he do or say anything which might provoke the question?

Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 9:47 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is the way he pretends to be Jewish relevant? no Does he speak Hebrew? irrel pretend to be a rabbi? noOr does he simply reply, "Yes", to the question "Are you Jewish?" (or something similar). Yes, but he probably also takes the initiative & mentions that he's Jewish If the latter, does he do or say anything which might provoke the question? Woubit (Woubit) Moderator Username: Woubit

Is his statement that he is Jewish in response to a question about his name? a remark about his name? or does he just mention it casually? Other names which would work: Matthew? Mark? Luke? John? Paul? Ringo? Simon? Andrew? Peter? Jude? Martha? Mary? Philip? Bartholomew? Zebedee?

Woubit's suggestion has given me an idea...Jim is worried about zoos; in particular, he is worried that he might be eaten by a lion (as tends to happen to people named Jim). When his friends offer him tea and cakes, he can see what's coming. There will be jam, then ham, then the inevitable gruesome end in the lion's jaws. To break the cycle, he mentions that he is Jewish, and cannot eat ham, thus cheating fate. Or am I just talking a load of old Belloc's?

Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 6:52 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is his statement that he is Jewish in response to a question about his name? a remark about his name? or does he just mention it casually? The first two possibilities are possible but the last is more likelyOther names which would work: Matthew? possibly but not as well as JamesMark? no Luke? I doubt it but am not sure John? yes Paul? no Ringo? no Simon? no Andrew? no Peter? noJude? no Martha? noMary? no Philip? no Bartholomew? no Zebedee? noOisin (Oisin) New member Username: Oisin

Post Number: 154 Registered: 12-2008

Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 8:34 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Woubit's suggestion has given me an idea... Jim is worried about zoos; in particular, he is worried that he might be eaten by a lion (as tends to happen to people named Jim). When his friends offer him tea and cakes, he can see what's coming. There will be jam, then ham, then the inevitable gruesome end in the lion's jaws. To break the cycle, he mentions that he is Jewish, and cannot eat ham, thus cheating fate. Or am I just talking a load of old Belloc's?Surprising as it may seem, this is not the solution

So there's this group of people whose first names could work for this puzzle. Is just one of them named James? or more than one? Is this James Jewish? Is his last name relevant? Does he have the same last name as our hero Jim?

Our hero Jim pretends to be Jewish so that people will associate him with this group of people - particularly with James? Does he want people to think that he actually IS James?

Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 2:02 am: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) So there's this group of people whose first names could work for this puzzle. Is just one of them named James?no or more than one? yesIs this James Jewish? yes Is his last name relevant? It's most likely neither distinctly Jewish, nor distinctly non-Jewish, i.e., names like Gordon or Miller rather than Christiansen or CohenDoes he have the same last name as our hero Jim? possibly but not necessarily

Our hero Jim pretends to be Jewish so that people will associate him with this group of people - particularly with James?He wants to be taken as one of a certain group of people named James & I don't mean just Jews named James, of course, Find out the relevant trait Does he want people to think that he actually IS James? There's more than one relevant James here other than our hero, who is not impersonating some particular person

Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2009 - 7:19 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) James is not generally considered a Jewish name due to its association with the apostle; relevant yes, although some other apostle's names are common among Jews, e.g., Paul, Andrew

(Although, come to think of it, Joshua is an extremely common Jewish name although this was Jesus's Hebrew name... :p)

RECAP & HINT: Recap: Add the following to the puzzle statement. The name 'James' is relevant, as its occurrence among Jews. HINT: There's a very important background fact about James that you need to find out.

so, we have a man called James who pretends to be Jewish so that he can appear to be one of a specific group of people? some of whom are called james but some aren't? And some are Jewish but some aren't? and the name John would also work but not the name Mark? and it works better if he has a non-jewish name? is that so that people are surprised when he says he is Jewish? is it importamt to him that people at first think he is non-Jewish? is it part of his plan that they first make an assumption that he is non-jewish? so that he can then put them right?

is this his way of countering anti-semitism? by confronting people who make anti-semitic comments to him thinking he is not jewish? but then he says 'actually I am'?

does he gain financially from this pretence? does it stop him losing financially? does it get him something that only a jewish person would get? some kind of benefit? a scholarship? does it somehow excuse some flaw he believes he has?

are any of these relevant about him: his age? his colour? his hobbies? his pets? his education? his sexual relationships? his physical appearance?

does he look jewish? does he have some physical characteristic that would be more associated with a jewish person? does he have some characteristic that might be more acceptable in a jewish person than a non-jew?

is he making a joke? doing this for effect? wanting to make someone uncomfortable? is this done in a lighthearted way? or is there some serious intent?

Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 10:25 am: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) so, we have a man called James who pretends to be Jewish so that he can appear to be one of a specific group of people? yes some of whom are called james but some aren't? yes And some are Jewish but some aren't? and the name John would also work but not the name Mark? yesand it works better if he has a non-jewish name? yopeis that so that people are surprised when he says he is Jewish? no is it importamt to him that people at first think he is non-Jewish? no is it part of his plan that they first make an assumption that he is non-jewish? so that he can then put them right? no

is this his way of countering anti-semitism? no. by confronting people who make anti-semitic comments to him thinking he is not jewish? no but then he says 'actually I am'? no

does he gain financially from this pretence? possibly does it stop him losing financially? dittodoes it get him something that only a jewish person would get? no some kind of benefit? a scholarship? nodoes it somehow excuse some flaw he believes he has? no

are any of these relevant about him: his age? yes his colour? yeshis hobbies? no his pets? nohis education? no his sexual yes relationships? no his physical appearance?

does he look jewish? probably neither distinctively Jewish nor distinctively non-Jewish does he have some physical characteristic that would be more associated with a jewish person? nodoes he have some characteristic that might be more acceptable in a jewish person than a non-jew? no

is he making a joke?nodoing this for effect? no wanting to make someone uncomfortable? nois this done in a lighthearted way? or is there some serious intent? yes

BLOOOPERRRRRRRRRRALERTTTTTTTTTTT!! are any of these relevant about him: his age? yes his colour? yeshis hobbies? no his pets? nohis education? no his sexual yes relationships? no his physical appearance? SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS SHOULD BE NO; PHYSICAL APPEARANCE SHOULD BE YESEliott85 (Eliott85) New member Username: Eliott85

Is his wife/fiancee/girlfriend/etc. Jewish? irrel How about her family? ditto Does she know that Jim isn't really Jewish?A wife would probably know; a girlfriend (or boyfriend) maybe not

Also, are they having a child? irrel Does he already have children? ditto

Does Jim have any Jewish relatives? ierrel Any Jewish in-laws? ditto

Does Jim pretend to be Jewish around non-family members (including the lady-type's family, if there is a lady-type)? yes

While pretending to be Jewish, does Jim use a different Hebrew name? irrel Or is Jim a Hebrew name? I doubt it! I opted out of Judaism so early around age 12) that I don't know much about it(I wouldn't know, heh.)

Are there any significant physical features we still need to address? yesish (like if he wears glasses?)that's not it

Is Jim pretending to be Jewish for his own sake?yes Someone else's? noOr both? no

Is his hair curly? Are the friends Jewish? relevant? Is he Abrahamically religious? Is he athiest? relevant? Is he racist or anti-semetic? (sp?) Would the people think about him differently if he wasn't actually Jewish? relevant? Is he feeling guilt about it? Does he say it so he doesn't have to go to someone's Christmas party? relevant? close? Does his parents know about his lie?

Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 6:49 am: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is his hair curly? irrelAre the friends Jewish? irrel relevant? noIs he Abrahamically religious?irrelIs he athiest? irrel relevant? No. He's pretending to be ethnically Jewish. Whether he's also pretending to be a follower of the religion of Judaism is irrelIs he racist or anti-semetic? (sp?) noWould the people think about him differently if he wasn't actually Jewish? possibly relevant? Well, it's relevant that he thinks people would feel differently about himIs he feeling guilt about it? irrelDoes he say it so he doesn't have to go to someone's Christmas party? no relevant? close? noDoes his parents know about his lie? irrel

Is hair color important? Eye color? Is he albino? Does he have a skin disorder? Like vitiligo? Is there something else noteworthy about his skin color besides being white? Is color important with ANOTHER character? Is color important in another way I'm missing?

So his name is important? By Jewish customs, is Jim a privileged name? Only for firstborns perhaps? Or you have to come from a family of influence? Does it matter that his name is also a word, like Jim can be "gym," Mary can be "marry," etc.?

Did he have a relevant traumatic experience? Is wealth important? Is schooling/education important?

Is he a chef? And pretending to be Jewish helps him serve Jewish patrons? Because he falsely claims his food is kosher?

Is hair color important? yesEye color? noIs he albino? Does he have a skin disorder? noLike vitiligo? Is there something else noteworthy about his skin color besides being white? noIs color important with ANOTHER character? noIs color important in another way I'm missing? Look into the hair color issue

So his name is important? yes By Jewish customs, is Jim a privileged name? no Only for firstborns perhaps? no Or you have to come from a family of influence? noDoes it matter that his name is also a word, like Jim can be "gym," Mary can be "marry," etc.? no

Did he have a relevant traumatic experience? possiblyIs wealth important? noIs schooling/education important? no

Is he a chef? irrel And pretending to be Jewish helps him serve Jewish patrons? noBecause he falsely claims his food is kosher? no

Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 8:24 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) does he have red hair? possibly if so, does he dye it? irrel does he make this pretense to hide his red hair in some way? no

Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 11:21 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) The people he is trying to fool...is their hair color important? no Is it different to Jim's? irrel The same? ditto

Does he have any gray hairs? see mext amswer Is he vain and tries to hide them? Either he has no gray or white hair or he dyes it Or does he "use" them to make him look distinguished and intelligent (in a Harrison Ford kind of way)? no

Is he balding?no Does he wear a wig or toupee? no

Did somebody make fun of his hair? no Is that the "possible" traumatic experience? no

Is his body particularly hairy? noDoes he have differently colored head hair than eyebrow hair, body hair, etc.? no

is the presence or absence of grey hair of relevance in this puzzle? does he make this pretense to seem younger than he is? older? to seem more mature?

not sure iof this has been asked but is his job relevant?

the group of people he pretends to be part of - is it some cohort of people who have had a similar experience? or been through a particular situation? or achieved something particular? something military?

would people admire him for being in this group? might it give him opportunities he wouldn't otherwise have?

Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 10:52 am: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) is the presence or absence of grey hair of relevance in this puzzle? yesdoes he make this pretense to seem younger than he is? yesolder? noto seem more mature? no

not sure iof this has been asked but is his job relevant?Ot has been asked & it's irrel

the group of people he pretends to be part of - is it some cohort of people who have had a similar experience? or been through a particular situation? or achieved something particular? something military? See above--he's just trying to pass himself as younger than he actually is

would people admire him for being in this group? Well, ageists wouldmight it give him opportunities he wouldn't otherwise have? yes

Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 8:24 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) So gray hair is important to this puzzle, but he may not even have gray/white hair (or he dyes it)?We've already esablished that the reason for his pretense is that he's trying to seem younger than he is.So he either doesn't have gray or white hair or he dyes it, that is, his hair does not impede his pretense.

Is there a particular Jewish custom that relates to gray hairs? no A higher incidence of gray hairs in the Jewish community?irrel

Is Jim trying to gain entrance into an age-specific group? Club? School? Dating service? Other organization? Other location?His reason for wanting to seem young is irrel. Lots of people try to "pass" for young for the same sort of reason that some American blacks used to try to "pass" for white.ALL YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT NOW IS WHY A MAN NAMED JAMES WILL SEEM YOUNGER IF HE PRETENDS TO BE (ETHNICALLY)JEWISH. THIS SHOULDN"T BE HARD. SO PLEASE FINISH OFF THIS PUZZLE!!!!

Is Jim trying to immigrate? Gain citizenship or legal residence?probably not, because he'd probably have to produce a birth certificate

If James actually were Jewish, would he have to change his name after he passes a certain age?No. Remember, religion isn't relevant, just Jewsish ethnicity Like you would only be named James if you aren't married or something? no

If he were a certain age, would he have to add some kind of prefix/suffix to his name? no

Is he playing a role in a play or movie? noHiphapa (Hiphapa) New member Username: Hiphapa

Post Number: 36 Registered: 2-2009

Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 9:33 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Or would he have to alter his name in some other way if we were in his 40's/50's (and Jewish)? no

is there some reason why jewish parents would only choose a name like James in more recent years? is it that, before a certain time this would have been very unlikely? perhaps that, prior to the last forty or so years a jewish child would most probably have had an old testament name? or definitely not a new testament-only name?

Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 10:18 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) is there some reason why jewish parents would only choose a name like James in more recent years? is it that, before a certain time this would have been very unlikely? Yes!!perhaps that, prior to the last forty or so years a jewish child would most probably have had an old testament name? no or definitely not a new testament-only name? No. I'm hardly an expert on either testament, but I think that Peter & Paul are new-testament-only names aren't they? Both were popular among Jews as far back as late 1940's, as were Michael, Andrew, an Elizabeth. But for some reason, John, James, & all variants of Katherine were virtually absent among Jews of that period. (John is still rare.) **** SPOILER ******** James is about 50 but could pass for 40 & wants to. He claims to be Jewish because anyone who has many dealings with American Jews will assume a Jew named James is almost certainly no more than 40, since prior to about 1970, American Jews virtually never named their boys James. Thanks for sticking with it, everyone, & for solving it, Hannah, & please direct your lateral minds to my new puzzle at the bottom of the page (as well as to my ongoing puzzles).